Envelop sealing and stamping apparatus.



E.I.BRAss'BUR.x PNVELOI.I HEALING AND BTAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED snr'r. I4, '1904i A l Patented Aug. 29, 191/1.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' VINVENTQR E. J.' BRASSBUR.; BNYBLOP SEALING -AND STAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLIDA'ION FILED SEPT.14, 1904. y A

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

7 gums-snm 2.

E J.BRASSEUR.'v

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLGTION TILB) SEPT` 14. 1904.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEBT 5.

l i: ZT Pq N J L @o WITNESSES: vINVENTOR @mm ATTORNEY E. J. BRASSBUR. y ENVBLOP SEALING AND STAMPING APPARATUS.

' l y APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14, 1904. v 1,002,194. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

S w Y wnNEssEs: INVENTOR BY 'L3 y ATTORNEY E. J. BRASSEUR. BNVBLOP SBALING AND STAMPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1904.

Papentea Aug. 29, 1911.

7 SHEETS-*SHEET 71 ATTORNEY UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST J. BnAssEUmoF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon To A. B. DICK COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A coBPoRArIoN or ILLINOIS.

ENvELoP sEALING AND STAMPING APPAnA'rUs.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led September 14, 1904. Serial No. 224,417.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ERNEST J. BRAssEUR, a ysubject of the King of Belgium, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented -a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelo ',Sealin and Stamping Apparatus, of whic the fo 10W- ing is a specification. i

V-The object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of a compact and reliable character for automatically sealing envelops and atlixing stamps thereto,

' A further object is to provide means for readily and conveniently of operation of the apparatus and to adapt the same either for envelop-sealing alone,

for' stamp-ailixing alone, or for both envelop`sealing and for stamp-afhaling.

A further object is to provide a device for automatically feeding stamps to the affixing mechanism and means for throwing such device out of operation upon the failure of an envelop to reach a position at which the device is -designed to .act- Y l f Further objects of the invention will lbe made to appear during the detailed description of the mechanism.

In carrying out the invention I employ, speaking generally, a single source of power and actuat-ing connections therefrom to the operating parts. The envelops are fedover a suitable table and successively acted upon by the feed mechanism carrying them in the order named into coaction with the moistener acting upon the adhesive material onY the ilaps of such envelops, and, further, into coaction with t-he stamp-aihxing mechanism by means whereof the stamp is aiixed to the 'envelop and suitable pressure applied to permanently attach the same thereto. The envelops areA then fed successively between coacting and continuously operating `aprons whereby the moistened flaps are pressed into position against the bodf of the envelops, pressure being applied su ciently long to assure the permanent sealing thereof. The stamps are aiiixed to the envelops while the llater are passing throughv the machine,

by stamping mechanism, including a stampaflixing means and devices for feeding thev stamps to the aii'ixing means. 'l` he operation of the stamping mechanism is under the c ontrol of the advancing envelops, so that as each envelop is passed through the machine stamp-feeding changing the Inode-v a stamp will be automatically .advanced to the envelop and affixed thereto. In the` preferred embodiment of the invention, the stamp-aixing means is a roller rotating cont-inuously during the operation of the machine, and the automatic control of the stamping mechanism is effected by having the envelops cont-rol the operation of the devices, so that each time an envelop is forwarded through the machine it will automatically cause operation of the stamp-feeding devices to feed a stamp to the continuously-operating stamp-ailixing devices. The advancing envelops, therefore, automatically control the operation of the stamping mechanism by directly controlling the operation of the stamp-feeding devices; the advancing envelops also indirectly control the operation of the stampatlixing devices, since these devices operate to aiiix stamps only when the stamps are fed thereto.

No claim is made herein tothe specific form of envelop sealing mechanism as this mechanism is described and claimed in Patent No. 945,743 dated January 11, 1910, and forming a division hereof.

vThe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front elevation illustrating the mechanism on a' scale of about one-half size; Fig. line 2 2 Fig. 1,; Fig. 3 is a top plan view; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows adj accnt to such line; Fig. 5 is asimilar section on the line-5F45 Fig'. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent to such line; Fig. (5 isa similar section on the line G-G Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent to such line; Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-section of the main shaft of the machine and its appurtenances, talai on `the line 7-7-Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a verticalemtion of such main shaft (both Figs. 7 and 8 I Patented Aug.l 29, 1911.

2 is a vertical cross-section on thel gtated more in detai l0 mec anism and the--stamp-aiixing fnism lbeing located above' such shel `mating mechanism as a whole is located' between the base 'A and shelf-plate B, the en lvelo -feeding mechanism, the stamp-feeding mecha'- plate B. The envelops are fed from left to right (Fig. 1), being collected by and passed through the aprons at the extreme right-of the machine after the iaps have been moistened and the stamps affixed;

The'main shaft C of the machine is best shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7. and 8. This shaft is journaled between the plates A and B and arts, designates the base and BV Looaiea in Fig. 7. After the detent above referred to has beenvthrown'out of engagement with the tooth c the movement of the gear C'J places saidl spring under tension thereby tending to revolve the ratchet c, the limit of its excursion being determined when the pin c" occupies the position shown in Fig. 7. During this excursion the tooth c on the ratchetrD has an opportunity to center itself in the teeth of said ratchet.

.The detent mechanism above referred to is here shown as comprising av small disk d1, having detent d2 and trip-tooth cl3. Said disk is mounted in the upwardly extending' arms d4 and a spring d tends to maintain the detent d2 in the path of movement of the tooth c of the locking plate c5. Said disk'd1 is operated by a lever d forming one of the I two levers (the other being d?) of a hellcrank pivoted upon thcrock-shaft dEl Carried by thebase plate AA and hereinafterv to be described.- The toothl on the end of arm d which cooperates with tooth da may be integral with the arm' or may be sepavcarries loosely mounted thereon a spiral gear 85 C1, to which poweris transmitted by a worin C carried by a shaft C, to which movement vmay be imparted either by hand or by means of a suitable motor. Mounted upon the same sleeve which carries the spiral gear C1 rately formed and pivoted thereon so as to is a s ur-gear C, meshin .with a similar yield somewhat, as 'shown at d9,.'Figs. 1

ear v 5 on shaft C", hereinafter to be reand 8. erred to. A in c depends from the under C8 designates a cam carried by the shaft side ofgear 8*, and to this is secured one C and coacting' with this is a stationarily end of acoil-spring c1, the other end where- 'mounted spring arm C, As the detent d2 of is secured4 to the sleeve q2 carrying the comes into coaction vwiththe tooth c, the ratchet c. Also de ending from the 'under arm C9 comes into Contact with the cam C8, -side of said gear t isl a pin c* operating The arm CD coacting frictionally with the within a recess formed in said Sleeve @2. cam C? holds shaft C against backward .ro- Underlyi-ng the ratchet cs is a disk c keyed 4tation under the stress of spring 01 when lEig, 8) t0 the shaft() and -between Said the latter is extended by the movement of -sk and said gear c is a locking plate c5 plate c5 by detent Z2 since such backward the tooth 06 and, upwardly projectmovement o-f shaft C and disk 018 would in P11150?, c, y cause pin cs tovactu'ate pawl D.

designates a locking pawl pivoted at d vKeyed tothe m'a'in shaft C and directly vupo'n the disk c and havingA curved/or underlying the disk 018 is a pinion cu meshbeveled outer surfaces coacting with the4 ing with an idler cl2 which in turn meshes pins c and c*3 and a tooth c coacting with with a pinion cl3 mounted on shaft 014. Dithe teeth of the ratchet o3. Said locking rectly overlying said pinion c is a disk 0,15 c plate is ro'vided With a recess (Fig. 7 and 'having a notch, and directly overlying this within tiis is located a coil-springc", one

disk is a' mutilated gearj'l". 'fw Mounted on end whereof iss'ecured to said locking plate,

- the shaft l" is a stop-plate f having locking the other end being secured upon the upper teeth at its ends concaved on the same curvasurface of the disk 01S.

. ture as the portionof the periphery of disk .A detent mechanism (shown to the left in 015 joining the ends of the notch therein;

Fig. 7 and hereinafter described) coacts this stop-plate coac'ts with the disk 015, and With tlie-tooth c on the locking plate c?.

directly overlying said stop plate is a pin When said detentband tooth are in engageion cuwfwith which the said mutilated gear ment the movement of the shaft C3 causes having ing the tooth c the cgwill be at the end el coact's, the mechanism thus described bea continuous rotary movement of: the spiral ing of the general character of a Geneva sto]. "s1ich that one revolution of shaft c rotates shaft F one-half of a revolution and then locks it aga-inst movement.

Mountedon the shaft C6 near the base' plate A is a pinion e meshing wi'th a larger pinion e1 on a stub-shaft e2, andv directly overlying said pinion e1 is a beveled pinion c3, with which engages a similar pinion e* niountedon stub-shaft c supported from the gear C1, the gear C4 and the ratchet c3. l lien. said tooth c is released, however, Affom the detentv the coil-spring c, moving the'locking plate c5, forces the pin o8 into 'engagement with the pawl D,vthereby movof said pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet c3. Normally, the spring c1 not being under tension of the recess in sleeve c* opposite that in which it isfshown base plate A of the vmachine and carrying beveled pinion efineshing with similarpin.- 1

4.ion e1 on a shaft es supportedv in suitable standard e on the base plate of the machine,

' apron .1411.' Said rolls E1 are mounted in the side members uw, e, of a frame carried 'by the hase-plate A, as is also another series of rolls E here shown as four in numberand around which operates the elastic belt or api-pn E4, a portion thereof bein in contact with the elastic belt or vapron 2. The envelops having been acted upon as hereinafter described, pass between these-belts roll G1.

'or aprons and thence out of the machine.

Before concluding the description of the mechanism beneath'the shelf-plate B, I will turn for clearness to a part of the meehaiiism overlying such plate, including the means for passing the envelo) through ythe machine land the stamp-a Xingv device which coacts therewith.`

Z) vdesignates a hinged extension of the shelf-plate B over which the envelops are fed. Such envelops `are initially acted upon by the horizontal feed-roll G, the iiuted periphery whereof operates through an opening in said plate B, and by the vertical feed- Said horizontal roll is mounted upon a shaft having a spiral gear g meshing with asimilar gear g1, carried by a shaft g2, on which the vertical feed-roll G1 is mounted and which carries pinion g1, to which movement is imparted as hereinafter explained. g* designates a clutch on said shaft g2, and g5 an annulus forming part of the upper member of said clutch. A lever g carried by a rock-shaft cls coacts with said annulus so that upon the rocking of said lshaft the clutch is released thereby bringing said shaft g1 (and the feed-rolls G, G1) to a standstill, the purpose whereof is as follows -After an envelop has been fed over the shelf-plate B through the action of the horizontall feed-roll G andthe vertical feed-roll G1, it is desirable that said rolls be` brought to rest since such cnvelops are gripped and further drawn through themachine by other rolls to whieh'attent-ion will 4presently be called. A trip 4mechanism, hereinafter described, is therefore employed, so that after thei forward end ofj the enf velop has been gripped by the feed-rolls in advance of the rolls G, G1, the shaft d will be rocked thereupon "separating tlie `two members of the clutch g1 and bringing to rest notV only the horizontal feed-roll G but also the vertical feed-roll G1. G1 designates tlie.paperstop, the sani-e comprising two members holding between them tongues or fingers G1, the object whereof is to preclude the passage of more than a single envelop at a time@ Hinged at to one of the 'members of said stop. is the bracket h1 carrying a roll H, preferably rubber-covered and springpressed by means of aleaf-spring h2. -Gooperating withsaid roll H is a roll I and both of these are preferably recessed midway between'their ends to permit operation of the trip mechanism mounted on the shaft by which the roll I is carried.v Saidshaft 'i is mounted on the base plate A, passes through vthe shelf-plate B and is stepped in the top plate B1.

The tripping mechanism above referred to comprises a bifurcate plate i1 carried by a hub i1 mounted upon the shaft z' (see Figs. 4 and 9). A rearwardly extending' arm, 3, is connected by means of rod 1 with the uper end of the lever d1, hereinbefore reerred to as being carried by the rock-shaft d8. Said plate '1 lies in the path of movement of the advancing ed e of the envelop, a tongue i5 being carried y the bracket h1 and coactin with the bifurcation in said plate to sti en such advancing edge of the envelopv in' order that as the saine is fed forward said plate may be rocked up'on the shaft z' to thereby operate the rock-shaft d, .as above described. It will thus be seen that upon the actuation of the said tripping device the movement of the shaft als of the bell-crank lever opens the clutch mechanisin g* on the shaft g2, thereby bringing the rolls G and G1 to rest. Frointhis point on, the feeding of the envelop whose for- .o y

ward edge has passed the plate 1' is therefore independent of said rolls G, G1.

is designates a clutch on the shaft z' normally Vin 'engaging position and provided merely to permit said shaft to rotate free from its actuating mechanism when the envelop is pulled rearwardly at a greater rate of Aspeed than that at which the roll I is permitted to travel. 'Said shaft z' carries pinion i driven by pinion j1 engaging with pinion g3 through idler pinion 1.

J designates a shaft which like shaft z is mounted in the base-plate A, passes through the shelf-plate B and is stepped in the top plate B1. Adjacent to its mounting in the base-plate it is provided with a pinion j driven by the'pinion c1. The said pinion j engages with the idler pinion i1 which inturn meshes with the pinion i on the shaft z'.

is providedv with teeth adapted to coaet with the teeth of atubular clutch-member splined on shaft J and pressed against roll J1 by i a spring as shown inFig. l0 ;^this arrangement is such that roll J1 may turn freely o n its shaft in a direction corresponding to that in which the envelops are fed actuated by the envelops, and it may also be driven in that directlon by the shaft J. The shaft of. said roll J 2 is carried by arms j? pivoted upon shaft j* and' spring-pressed toward engaging position in proximity to the roll J1. ,he shaft j* issupported in ears j forming art of the moistener-frame ja hereinafter' escribed. The roll J1 being mounted on the shaft J carrying the pinion j which forms one of the ears in the main train of the' machine (Figs. 4 and 6),' this roll J1 will be rotated continuously during the operation of the machine. Also since the roll J 2 is loosely mounted upon its shaft and pressed into en gagement with the roll J1 Pigs. 3 and 4),

this roll J 2 will also be rotated continuously' during the operation of the machine.

Thel shaft C?, heretofore referred to as one of the connections through which power is transmitted to the envelop carrying aprons, is stepped inthe base-plate A, passes i .through the shelf-plate B and is journaled bracket 7c hinged at 'k1 to the ears j of they inthe to plate B1. y It is provided just be` low the siielf-plate'B with the pinion C7, the purpose whereof will be presently referred to.v Above the shelf-plate B and between the same and the top plate B1, said shaft carries al roll', C111, of considerable diameter. Preferably the periphery of'the roll C1B, or a portion thereof, will be rubber-covered, as may also the rolls H and I. The roll C18, however, travels at a surface speed substantially higher than that of the other rolls, thereby feeding the envelops from the machine faster thanthe same are introducedto or fed through the machine..

Mounted opposite to and eoucting with the roll C11, is a roll K mounted in a hinged moistener frame. Said bracket is springpressed by means of a leaf-spring 1h2, and has an extension or tail-piece 7c3, which Servesto guide the envelops passing between the rolls C and K, permitting them to fall in roer position between the beltsl or aprons E4.

i The moistening device comprises the Water i supply the moistener proper supplied thereby, an( a mille-d or knurled roll supporting the envelop flap in its passage between the same and the moistener proper and a drip cup or pan for the excess water.

L designates the water cup, which may be" of any suitable construction and dimensions.

It directly overlies the receptacle Z, in .which ,j is preferably placed a )ad of felt or'yother absorbent material, Z1. referably a detachable Weight Z2 will bear by its owngravity upon the pad, and where. this is `employed Such pad may besuitably perforated to receive the drip from the cup L. Directly beneath the'receptacle Zjand moistening pad Z1, the vshelf-plate B is cut away (see Fig. 5)

in a plane coincident with the upper surface of the shelf-plate, lies a milled or Aknurled roll, Z3, suitably supportedin bearings beneath the plate Normally and when no envelops are passbody, such flap passes over the roll Z11 and under the moistener Z1, whereb the adhesive substance on such Hap issu ciently moisand Within'this cut-away portion, operating tened as to seal the envelop' under pressure after the same has passed the moistening device just explained.' The envelops tobe sealed are arranged with their body-portions side by side and in, a vertical plane and the flap of each envelop extending at '5.

a right angle to the v.body upon the plate b, the body-portion of the end enveloplying against the.. wall b1.4 They are fed successively by rolls Gr and G1 between rolls H and I to thetmoistener. under which the flap passes and by which Yit is moistened. The body-portions of the envelops then pass between rolls J1 and J 1 and rolls Cs and K, the fla-ps of the envelops remaining during this movement at'a right angle to the bodyportions; the mounting of the rolls J2 and K is suc-h that the flaps can pass under those rolls while the rolls coact with the body-portions of the envelops. After passing rolls C*3v against the same.

The mechanism -as 'thus far described is that employed for sealing only, or, v1 n conjunction with other mechanism' herelnafter to be referred to, when it is desired to both seal an envelop and aiiix a stamp thereto.

Thestamp-atlix-ing mechanism is governed largely by the shaft F and, coactmg with this, is an adjusting device, the operation whereof determines whether all 4the mechanism is to be brought into yplay in order to both seal the envelop and ailix. the stamp thereto, or whether the stamp-aiixmg mechanism is to be thrown out of operation inl order to permit the machinej to seal only.

This mechanism comprises a hand-piece L 1,- secured to and adapted to operate a, shaft` Lzunounted in the base-plate and shelfplate B, and av cam-leverL11 carried by sa1d shaft L2 and coacting with one ofthe members of a clutch L1 on the shaft F. In the position in which these parts areshown in Fig. 6, the stampnflixing mechanism, tobe presently desbribed in detail, 1s inoperative position. To throw that mechanism to 1noperative position, it is only necessary to press the hand-piece L1, and thereupon bring the cam-lever L3 wunder and cause it to raise against the tension of a s ring the upper member of the clutch L, W ereupon i the shaft F will be maintained atrest.

. ing and separating such stamps will be dependent iipon the passage of an envelop through the machine. `In other words, the mechanismv is such that no stamp will be fed unless there bean envelop in position to receive it. Moreover, this mechanism has the -added function (when the Imachine is adjusted for both sealing and stamping) of precluding the passage of an envelop through the machine unless a stamp be in position for afiixing thereto. This mechanism is best "hown in Fi s. 4, 5 and 9, although parts thereofy may e seen in elevation and plan in Figs. 2 and'3.

The pinion C7 onthe shaft CG has heretofore been referred to. This meshes with a pinion m carried (below the shelflate B) by a shaft M journaled in said sielfplate B and in the top plate B1. shaft also carries the crank-disk m1 having the crank-pin m2. Said crank-pin operates in an elongated slot m3 formed in one end of a crank-arm m4, the opposite end whereof is mounted loosely upon the shaft F. Secured to or formed integral with the end of said crank-arm m4L so mounted, is a saddle mi', provided at one end withv the upwardly extending lug m and at the other end with the upwardly extending pin m7. The mechanism just described, as well as that coacting therewith, can best be understood from Figs. 9, 13 and 14, the first-named being to some extent diagrammatic, the shelfplate B being shown in dotted lines for the saliev of clearness. saddlle m is a ratchet m8. pin mT project upwardly on either side of f-:aid ratchet and the former into the path of movement of a /ibrating plate N, also mounted upon said'shaft F: On t-hc under side of said vibrating 'plate N is a pawl'n coasting with the teeth of said ratchet ma. The movement of said plate about the shaft l? transmits motion to said ratchet m8 and shaft F to which the ratchet is fixed `and to a roll hereinafter described carried by shaft y l? above the shelf-plate B. Vibratory movement is transmitted to said plate N by the coaction of lug m6 therewith, whlch meves said plate in one direction, movement in the reverse direction being imparted under the'stress of the coil-spring n2 and limited by the stop w3. Obviously whether movecient will be imparted to the ratchet m8 by' the vibration of said plate -N depends upon the extent of movement of the latter. This 5 ui turn depends .upon the presence or ab- Said,

Directly overlying the The lug m and.

sence of a stamp in position to be affixed on an envelop passmg through the machine.

y O designates what I term a feeler. The same comprises an oscillating plate slotted to receive pins or screws o, whereby said feeler is morably secured to the side of a bracket o1 mounted upon ,the post 02 carried by the l shelf-plate B. Said bracket o1 is provided with a stud o3 coacting withv a cam o* carried by the shaft M, the effect whereof is to move said bracket upon the post 02 toward and from said shaft M. Contact between.

said cam and. stud is assured by the coilspring 05. The lateral movement so imparted, in addition to the longitudinal movement, of the feeler O revents the` forward edge thereof from bucliling the stamp with which it coacts.V f o designates an arm extending from said feeler.O and oT a link connecting lsaid arm with the vibrating plate N throu h the in o. y

The o ce of t 'e feeler O is to move into and out of the path of movement of the stamp (indicated in dotted lines in- Fig. 9) to determine, in manner' hereinafter specified, whether the envelop-feeding mechanism as well as the mechanism for feeding another stamp-shall be operated.

The shaft L2 carrying the finger-piece L1 and cam-lever L3 for operating the clutch L4 onthe shaft F has heretofore been referred to. As show-n in Fig. 9 this shaft carries, in addition to the cam-lever L, the

cam-stud p, which coacts with the bell-crank P pivoted at p1, the distant end thereofp2 bearing operative relation to a pin p3 projecting outwardly from the vibrating plate N. The correlation of the bell-crank lever P and said pin p3 determines whether the :stamp-aixing mechanism is to be brought into operation or not, the said mechanism being operative only when said plate N is permitted its greatest movement as heretofore indicated. Vhen, therefore, the fingerpiece L1 is thrown to suchposition as that the retracting spring p" may rock the bellcrank upon its pivot, the movement of said plate is necessarily restricted with the re-l sult that 1t has insuiiicient throw to actuate the ratchet m, and thereby effect the feeding of a stamp. Even when said bell-crank is in the position in which it is illustrated in Fig. l9, however, the operation of said vibrating plate N is further governed by the presence or absence of a stamp in position opposite the path of movement of the feeler O as above indicated, for neither when the bell-crank P is thrown to non-stamping po'- sition, nor when the stamp is inthe path of movement of said feeler, will plate N vibrate to a sufficient degree to move the ratchet m and thereby feed another stamp from the receiver hcreinafterdescribed.

A further function of the' Vibrating plate N, not heretofore disclosed, is to govern the which, like the lever g",

, of different lengths,

.operation of the rolls wherebythe envelops are fed to sealing and stamping position the object being to preclude the passage of cates a vertical rock-shaft mounted between the base-plate Al and shelf-plate B. Rigidly secured to this shaft is the clutch cam 1',

coacts with the annulus g5 formed on one of the members of thel clutch carried by the shaft g2. It will be recalled that this clutch is operated ,by the striking of the advancing edge of an envelop against the tripping mechanism 1, above described, so t-hat the feed-rolls G, G1 will not be operated after the envelop has been acted upon between the rolls H andI. The .object of thislis to allow for envelops said feed-rolls bein stored to operation only afterA the envelop' which has already passed them, ne matter what its length, has been drawn out of the way. The mechanism now being described produces the same result so far as the feed- .rolls G, G1, are concerned, but with a different object, z'. e., to preclude the' feeding of an envelop (when t e machine is arranged for stamping or for stamping and sealing), unless the stamp be in position to be affixed thereto.

' upon the Saddle m5.

r1 and r2 designate toggle levers connected at the pivotal point r11, the distant end of the lever r1 being pivotally connected to a studien the under side of the shelfplate B, while the distant end ogt' the lever r1 ispivotally connected with a cam arm r* keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft R. rt designates a bell-crank lever pivoted upon the pivot-pin r3, which connects the toggle levers r1, r2. One member of said bell-crank coacts with a stop r", while theother end coacts with a recess and shoulder rl formed in the vibrating plate N. Pivotally mounted upon the bell-crank T5, and positioned thereon by means of the spring r, is an arm 1', which operates against the cinived edge ofthe plate N (but, being of greater thickness, extends below the same) and with which coacts the upwardly extending pin m-7 Tho arrangement of these parts is such that if saddle and plate N are reciprocated together,` on the backward movementof plate .N the end of arm r1 will engage the curved edge of` the vplate directly over-lying the stud 'fit1 and will be turned on its pivot against the tension of spring 711 to such an extent that its end will not engage the stud m". N 1s held However, if plate against a backward movement coextensive with that ofsaddlem", the stud m1 on the saddle will engage the end of arm fr and operate the same to buckle the toggle. lVhenthe tinger piece- L1 has been thrown to unless the atiiiring of revided with a retractor r1 shelf-.plate B, a cam -wheel.Q, havin they are shown in said last-named figure.

Should thel movement of the plate N b'e restricted, however, either by the throwing of the finger-piece L1 or by a stam opposing the full degree of movement'of t e feeler O, then the next forward movement ofthe pin mi, upon the saddle m5, would bring it i into coaction with the arm r, thereby rocking the bell-crank 1'5 upon its pivot- 7'3, moving such pivotal oint awac7 from the stop 711,*to the right in 4`ig. 9, an raising the end of arm r, thus 'rocking the shaft R and' re-y r from engagement moving the clutch cam with the annulus (f1 forming part of the clutch onithe shaft g2, which operates the feed-rolls G, G1. The clutch camr r is proandv stop r11.' lVhen the toggle-levers r1, r2, are inthe position illustrated 1n Fig. 9 wherein the pivotal point r3 is slightly to the left of a linejoining the-extreme ends of the .togglelinks,'they are locked againstthe tendency of the retractor r1 which when the togglethe links so as to carry the pivot r3 tothe stops 711,@ The toggle-links -links are in this position tends to buckle, l

leased by the operation of the bell-crankrl1 I which moves the by straightening the toggle-linksand then buckling them on the other side; the eii'ectl of this straightening movement on cam r 1s negligible, but the buckling movement raises the end of arm r1, rotates shaft R and swings the end of cam r away from the clutch. The toggle-links are reset in the position shown in Fig. 9 by the shoulder?" of plate N, which when the plate is reciprocated engages the end of th'-bell-crank fr.

The main shaft C carrienjust below thecamtooth g enacting with' the bell-crank pivot rato the right, thereoted at q1 to a stud projecting from the un- 1- l der surface of the shelf-plate B, its end distant from the pivotal pointcoacting with van ear m10 forming part of the vibrating plate N. Referring now to Fig. 9, illustrating-the l mechanism in stamping position, it will be understood that if under the influence of the movement C1, m., m1 and m* a Vstamp were passing across the path of movement of the fceler O, the operation of Said feeler would interfere with the feed thereof," It is desirable, therefore, 'to retard the movement of' said feeler' during thel passage of such'` stamp; and this is accomplished by the belly crank Q1, since the moment the shaft 'C starts" to make its revolution, the cam-tooth.

is carried out of coaction with the bellcrank Q1, the long arm of the latter being s verse movement of turning (under the influence of the coilspring ln?) untilafter the stamp has proressed beyond the path of travel of the eeler O. f

Most of the stamp-aixing mechanism thus far described, save the feeler, is -located l below the shelf-plate B. The rest of such mechanism, lying above such plate, can best be described by following the course of the stamps from the stamp receptacle through the various rolls, etc., actuated by the mechanism below the plate and above described.

S designates a stamp receiver pivot'edat s upon a bracket extending outwardly fromthe shelf-plate B,

vided with bosses or roller bearings (as may be preferred) s1, to facilitate the movement of said receiver u on said plate. Said receiver is provide with a hinged top or cover (Figs. 2, ,3 and 12), the forward edge whereof, as here shown, is provided with a rib s2, for the purpose presenti explained. A chain-and weight .91, or `o erl suitable means, may be employed to draw' said receiver to the left (Fig. 3) to assure best results in feeding the stamps.

s* designatesa series of long and narrow strips of oil board or other material, tween which the stripsof connected stamps are placed. These board strips are preferably provided with a recess coacting with the rib sz on the cover of the receiver, in order to properly position said Aboard. strips and prevent the same from bein carrled the actioii of the e'ofeach of out of the receiver. under stamp feed. The forward ed the board strips is cut away y and in this lcutaway portion opexvat a feed-sheave s (Figs. 4, upon a bracket extending from a screw-stud 8 supported by the shelf-plate B. Around said shea-ve s5- runs an endless belt 8"' (preferably of rubber), which passes also around a roll ss (Fig. 9) mounted upon a journal s (Fig. 3), stepped at its lower end in a U- shaped bracket 311 secured to the shelf-plate said journal being ad- Iiusted by means of a set-screw. The roll s1 is recessed'for engagement withKthe belt .91, .so that its diameter both above and below the inuence of, the

horizontally swingingv the under side of said receiver being proi shaped plates' and parallel see Figllf),

9 and 10) carried B, and its upper end in a similar U-shapedv bracket 81 (Fig. 3),

said belt is substantially the sameas the re'- whereby the' water cessed portion referred to` plus'the belt itself.

lSaid roll 8B is arranged parallel with and in' close juxtaposition to -theV shaft F, 'which passes throughboth of the U-shaped plates above referred to (Fig. 3) and is journaled at its extreme upper end in the top plate B1.

That portion of said shaft F between said U-shapedplates is milled or knurled, (like the portions of the roll ss below Aand 'above the recessed portion which receives the belt s1) to form a roll S11 similar to the and immediately ing with a similar pinion carried by the roll s1, whereby the movement of said shaft F will be transmitted to said roll` .911.v At a roll s, below. the upper U-shapedl plate 81 is provided with a pinion 811, coactpoint coincident with the cut-away portion A- of the lower U-shaped plate, thev shelf-plate B is out away to permlt the passage of the pivot pin 0E where y the link o7 of the feeler O is connected with the vibrating plate N.

S1 designates a shaft mounted in suitable bearin s in the top plate B1 and shelf-plate B an extendin below said shelf plate, where it is provi ed with a pinion Sz meshing with the inionS3 carrled by the shaft F. Above t e shelf -plate B said shaft passes through orifices in both the U-shaped plates abovereferred to and between said plates isprovided with a roll S1, milled orl knurledsimilarly to the other two rolls just described. Also mounted between said U- with and in juX- taposition to the roll last named, is another 'roll S mounted upon a shaft ,S1s adjustable in the upper U-shaped plate above referred to. It is driven by a pinion which meshes with asimilar pinion carried by the shaft S1.

The feeler O operates in close prozimity to the two rollsA last named. The forward'.

toothed and coactsedge of said feeleris with a comb-plate S, having recesses suitably spaced to coact with the teeth on the forward edge of said comb -`plate. Said plate is so. arranged relativp'7 to the path of travel of the stamp as to support the same when such stamp is impinged 'against bythe advancingedge of the feeler.

Sdeslgnates a, shaft journaled inthe,

shelfplate B and extending below said plate, where it is rovided with a pinion S8, driven. by the pimon S? shelf-plate B said shaft S1 is provided` with a milled or knurled roll S11 extending` in the samey plane as the similarlylv constructed rolls on shaft-J. Above the,k

above described. Also-.just above said shelfplate B theV shaft S" ''1isf provided with a pinion S10, which itrefheswith-lanother inion S11 carriedfby the core of a.moisten mg roll S11. Said core is open 'at its end, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive watefrom the water-cup S14, through the tube S15. Said .core is provided with perforations fedto the inside thereof axial opening for the pivot pin S1, whichl supports the moistening roll and which pro. jects upward through a small slot in the upon the shaft may betra'nsmitted tothe felt or other covering, by which moisture is applied to the stampi. Said Core is also provided. with an X connected thereto in orc er to-.withdraW themoistening roll S12 from Contact with the roll S21 so that it 'can be raised off of its pivot-pin S1, as forA instance when the moisteningroll needs eleansing.

The shaft J heretofore referred to as mounted in the base-plate Aland shelf-plate B, extends upward. above the latter and is journaled also in the topplate B1. Between the shelf-plate and the' top plate B1'said shaft'earries the roller J1, having preferably a rubber-covered periphery, and between this .roller and said shaft there is aeluteh', which permits the roller to operate faster than th'e shaft when the 'envelop hasbeen seized by the high speed roll C8, for delivery from the machine (see Figs. 3 and 4).-

In the present. instance the shaft S", being journaled in'the shelf-,plate B, theupper Vend thereof or of the roll carried thereby is centered by means of a screwrod S11. Y. This carries a collar T, from whleh extends an arm t, whose end terminates in elose proximity to the periphery of roll J1. From this end of 'said arm depends a rod t1 (see Fig. 11),- aftixed' to which are strippers t2, which extend lmekwardly in the di reetion of travel of the stamp and the ofliee whereof is to prevent the stamp from adhering to the moistening roll and assure its passage between saidtstrippers and said roll J1, which atiixes such', stamp to the passing `envelop. The stamp maybe guided in. such passage by guides lV or such eher equivalent means as may be desired.

The operation ofthe apparatus has been explained to a yconsiClerable extent in eouneetion with the deseripli'on ot' the various parts and needs only the '.ollowing addition :m First, assuming that the ai'iljiaratus is to be used for sealing onlyu the stamp-aitixing mechanism having been thrown out of operation means of the linger piece L1 and the clutch earn L3, a pile of en velops, each with its flap extended at an angle to the body, is

fed over the extension 11. .the pile being pressed against the wall b1 (through 'a vertieal opening wherein the feed-roll G" operates), while the horivlontal feedfroll (fr tends to force the entire lot of'envelops against the frame Gr3 and stop (it. The feed-roll G1 (ends to press forward only the innermost., saidstop G* preeluding 'the passage of envelops outside such innermost envelop, and this forward feeding movement of sueh lupon the bodies of the envelops, but also` cam L out of operative position, pern'iitting .plate N and, throughthe same, moves the innermost envelop is continued until the forward edge thereof passes between the rolls H andl I, when it comes ineontaet with the trippil-lg device 1, 'thereby (through arms i, zf) rocking the shaft tls, moving the lever rl and releasing the tooth c of the locking plate cr'vfrom the detent or stop Il. .'lhereu-pon sai-d locking plate moves the tooth of the pawl D into coaction wit-h. the ratchet a3, permitting the main shaft C to make vone oomplete revolution before'said tooth o? and detent rlg come again into eoaction. 'lhe rocking of said shaft (8, by operating the eluteh carried by the shaft g2, throwsout of operas tion the feed-rolls G, G1, which thereupon cease to aet upon the envelop, sue'h envelop being carried. it'roin that point on, irst',-by the rolls H and I and. then bythe rolls J1, J2, and vfinally b'y the high speed roll C18 and its eoaeting roll K, until it falls between tlie85 aprons E2, E". The speed of' the latter .is so' adjusted as that, while the envelops are fed thereto and discharged therefrom successively, several will preferably be passing between th'e aprons at a given time, in order that not only may the flaps be pressed firmly this pressure applied for a sullieient length of timeto permit the adl'iesive material to become firmly set. lf, now, the machine be adjusted, not only for sealing the envelops, but also atlixing stamps thereto, the operation of the finger piece-L1 throws the eluteh the stamp-altixing mechanism to operate 10 when power is transmitted thereto. The same operation that heretofore tracedtakes plaee vand 'in addition motion is transmitted to the shaft l?, tliese being geared in the relation of two to one, there being onehalf a revolution to ythe' shaft l4` for every complete revolution of the main shaft C. The stamps having been tornv into strips of even length and placed between t-he oil boards s* so th at. the ends of the stamp strips shall coincide witlrthe ends of sueh boards and the weightor other adjusting appliance for the receiver applied. the en'd of the endless belt .s-l entering the eut-away portion of the first oil-board will bearlireetly against V the end of the first `stamp strip and., when rotated, exert a tendency to withdraw the stamp from the receiver and feed it between the stamp-passing rolls'. A

The first movement that takes plaee due 126 to the rotation of the main shaft C is th rough the pinions (ll and my to the slotted roeking arm m and thence to the saddleplate fm?. .A'Ytssuming that no s1 amp is yet in position, the movement ofthe saddleplate m and its lug my. moves thev vibrating ratchet m11 to theA extent of one tooth. Thev bell-crank r, the` toggle-links and the parts associated. therewith are lin the positions '13 shown in Fig. 9, thereby assuring the inoperative condition of the envelop-feeding rolls G, G, as liere-inbefore explained, and if they are not in this position, on the first movement of plate N, the shoulder-71T will engage the end of bell-crank and move the parts to the position illustrated. 'lhe movement of the' ratchet ma transmits corresponding movement to the stamp-feeding belt S7 and the rolls es, S13, S20 and Si The movelnent of the ratchet and other parts described is continued and a stamp -fed for-l ward and when it reaches the rolls S20 andn S4 (operating at higher speed than the rolls sa and S13) tornfroin the strip and passed forward in pioximity -to the comb-plate S. The moment' it reaches this posit-ion, it

lblocks the full extent of movement of the feeler O (which has tlieretofore been oscillating), with the result that the movement of the plate N is restricted and the envelop-A feeding rolls G, G thereby', in manner heietofore eXplained,-th`rown to o iative position. If now, no envelops be ed, the stamp adjacent to the coinb-plate i'einains in that position, the restricted movement of the plate N di'iving the stamp-feeding vrolls no farther. When, however, an envelop isfed forward by the rolls G, Gi1 and its forward edge operates the trip 1, the detent d2 and tooth c are released, with the result that a complete revolution of the shaft C causes one-half a revolution (corresponding to the length of a stamp) of the shaft F. The movement of the latter takes up the operation of the stamp-feeding and passing mechanism and as the envelop reaches proper position, its advancing edge past the aiiixmg roll J1, the stamp, moistened when passing the roll S12, is fed thereto and impressed thereon, whereupon the envelop is passed from the machine in manner above described. In this cycle ofv movements, the trippingof the mechanism 1, besides releasing the detent l2 and tooth c, throws out the envelop-feeding rolls G, G1, so that the movement of the envelop is independent of these from that time on. If, after the envelop whose courselhas thus been traced, has passed the stamp-ailixing point, another stamp is in position, the operation proceeds as before. lf not, the envelop feed is disabled until the proper positioning of the stamp again permits the envelop feed to operate as above described.

Among the more pertinentadvantages in the mechanism hereinbefore described, attention is called to the following z-Tlie use of-envelops of a standard size is unnecessary, but on the contrary provision .is made for sealing or stamping or both sealing and stamping envelops of varying vvlength, this provision residing `in the means for cutting-` oif the initial feed of each envelop before more than a portion thereof has passed the the envelop first acted upon has passed beyond the tripping mechanism Iwhich coacts with the feed-roll clutch, thereby releasing such mechanism and clutch to restore the feed-rolls to operative position for the next envelop. Next, when the machine is adapted .for both sealing and stamping, the feeding of an envelop when no stamp is in position for application thereto is precluded, since if the feelei' O be permitted to make its full movement, the vibrating plate N will, as-

above described, operate the clutch of the feed-roll shaft and thereby .throw the feedrolls to inoperative position. Again, when the machine is adapted for both sealing and stamping, the feeding (and consequent waste) of a stamp under such conditions that an envelop cannot be passed forward to ineetxit stamp can be passed to the alfixinguroll 1 the envelop: must have operated the trip,

thereby releasing the tooth c of the locking' plate c5 `from the detent or stop cl2, which thereupon carries the stamp (which has already been torn froinythe strip) forward into coaction with the aflixing roll J1, by means whereof the stamp is applied to the envelop. Moreover the halting of an envelop immediately after operating the trip and before proceeding to the proper point for the aiiiXing of the stamp thereto, is precluded, since simultaneously with its operationrof such trip the envelop is grasped by 7- the rolls adjacent toI the trip and these rolls having constant movement assure the passage of the envelop forward yto the point where the stamp is placed in position thereon. I also attach importance to the arrangeis precluded, since before the `location of the feed-rolls and these feed-i rolls do not again become operative until ment of the rolls and aprons whereby the sealed or sealed and stamped envelops are delivered from the machine. The arrangement herein illustrated and described la y such that the envelop is seized positively, the pressure tending to carry the envelop between the aprons being applied not only to the body of the envelop but also to the outstanding flap. Moreover, since these aprons are so constructed and arranged as to carry a series of envelops at a time, there is a substantial interval between the momentv the envelop enters the aprons and the moment it leaves the same, during which const-ant pressure is applied to the envelop and the permanent sealing of the same assured.

It is to be understood that the use of the word stamp herein is not to be construed 'as limiting the invention to the affixing of postage-stamps to envelops, as the apparatus described is capable. of efficient use in connection with address stamps or labels, the principal change necessary to adapt-.the ma- `chine for the latter use being the simple one of feeding theenvelop a trifle farther before it is met by the stamp and either' raising the envelop or depressing'the stampaflixing devic'e to properly position the address stamp orlabel.

Having now described my inventiomwhat I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows 1. The combination with an envelop-feeding device andl means for automatically affxing stamps to envelops so fed, of intermediate mechanism for throwing said feeding device out of operation upon vhe failure of a stamp to reach afiixing position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with anenvelop-feed-` ing device, a. stamp-feeding device, and meansifor afixing a stam sol fed to an envelop of intermediate mec anism for throwing the parts to inoperative position upon the failure of an envelop or a stam to .reach lst'amp-allixing position, substantie ly as set .fort f 3. The combination :with a bed adapted to receive a plurality of envelops, of a feedroll, means controlled by the passage, of an envelop for throwing the ame' to inoperaytive position, and stamp-a Xing mechanism includinga device also coacting with said --eed-roll to throw the same to inoperative -operative and for causing operation of said 40 i.

`mechanism to aifix a stamp to the envelop so fed, substantially as set forth. 1 .i 5. The combination'with a bed adapted to receivea plurality'o'f` envelops,.and a feedroll coacting successively with the envelops on such bed, of normally inoperative stampy#feeding mechanism, and, a tripping device actuated by the passage of an envelop tio throw' said feed-roll temporarily to ino era-y tive position and simultaneously to tirowV said stamp-feeding mechanism to operative position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a bed adapted to receive a plurality f envelops, and a feedroll coactingsuccessively with the envelps on such bed, of normally inoperative stampfeeding mechanism, and a tripping device actuated` by the passage' of an envelop to.

throw said feed-roll temporarily to inoperative position and simultaneously to throw said stamp-feeding mechanism to operative ition if a stampv be in position to be affplid to said envelop, substantially as set forth.-

V'l'. The combination with a bed adapted to receive a plurality-of envelops, of a feed- :tiveystamping mechanism, a main powerroll adjacent to said bed and coacting .roll, a coacting clutch mechanism, a main and said stamp-affixing mechanism, and

|means'for operating said envelop-feeding mechanism to feed an envelop independently of the operation of said stain -afiX- ing mechanism, and means actuated y' the envelope for cont-rolling the connection of said shaft to the stanip-aihxing mechanism so that the shaft may actuate. said aiiixing mechanism independently of the envelops, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with envelop-feeding and sealing apparatus, including a feedroll coacting successively with the envelops passed therethrough, of normally inoperashaft, connections between the same and said feeding and sealing apparatus and said stampingmechanism, and means controlled bythe passage of an envelop through said feeding and sealing apparatus for throwing lot saidv feed-roll. out of operation and simultaneously throwing saidqstamping mechanism into loperation through a detent and stop mechanism governing the transmission ofv power from said main sha-ft to said stamping mechanism,'substantially as seti forth.

10. The combinationwith abed adapted to receive a plurality of envelops and a feed- 11G with said envelops, of a main power-shaft, stamp-feedingmechanism operated thereby and adapted to feed a stamp to a certain point, and means for assuring the retention of said Stamp at such point until :in envelop be fed foi-Ward to receive it, substantially as set foith.

11. The combination with a main shaft, and stamp-feeding mechanism operated by said main shaft to feed stamps successively to a certain point only, of intermittent mechanism also driven by said main shaft for further moving the stamps from the position named to stamp-aflixing position, a detent and stop device governingsuch intermittent operation, and means controlled by the passage of an envelop to stainp-a'llixing position for actuating said detent'aiidlstop device, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination l-`viii'th envelop-feedingr mechanism includin moana.

zgpiaratus, of mechanism for feeding and r mg stamps to envelops f ed thereby, such a feeler operating in 'the line of travel o such stamps, 'and conn'ectionsbetween said feeler and said en. .wop-feeding apparatus, whereby the move,-t

ivnent of the' formerl will determine the operation of the latter, substantially as set forth. I

.13. The combination with envelop-feeding a' paratus, of mechanism for feeding and a Xing stamps to envelops fed thereby, such mechanism including a vibrating plate anda coacting feeler operating in the path of' movement of such stamps, and connec- 7 tions between said feeler, said plate and said envelop-feeding apparatus, whereby when the assumption by a stamp of o erative position restricts the movement o said feeler and late said envelop-feeding apparat-us will e thrown to operative position, substantially as set forth.

14C. The combination with envelo -feeding a paratus, of mechanism for ceding` and a Xing stamps to-envelopsfed thereby, such mechanism including a vibrating plate and a coacting feeler operating in the path of movement of `such stamps, and connections between said feeler, said plate and said envelop-'feeding apparatus, whereby when the lfailure .ofx a stam to reach o erative position 'permits the ull extent o movei ment' ofsaid feeler and vibrating late,

said` envelop-feeding apparatus wil be thrown tov inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a main powershaft, of stamp-feeding rolls, a pawl and ratchet movement for operating the same to feed the stamps to a certain position only,

- a vibratingpawl-carrying plate upon the shaft carrying said ratchet, an oscillating feeler connected with said plate, means for precludingV the passage of the foremost Ystamp be ond the point named when said plate an feeler have their full degree of movement, and means for passing such foremost stamp to attixing position and cor respondingly advancing another stamp' to the point named upon the restriction of the movement of said plate and feeler and consequent actuation of said ratchet independently of the pawl carried by said plate, substantially as s et forth. l

16. The combination with a shaft having a ratchetY and oscillating saddle mounted -thereon, a vibrating plate having a pawl coacting with said ratchet, and a device for operating said plate upon the movement of saidsaddle, of stamp-feeding rolls actuated by said shaft, certain thereof having greater surface speed than certain others in order t'ol separate the stamps from the strips, an envelop-feeding roll having a clutch device, and connections betweensaid clutch device said feeler and assuring o and said plate, whereby. the movement of the latter wil determine the operative or inoperative condition of the former, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with stamp-feeding mechanism, including rolls for passing stamps successively to aftixing position and separatin them meanwhile from the strip, of an osci lating feeler operating. in the path .of travel lof said stamps, an envelop-feeding device, and means coacting with said yfeeler independently of the stamp for disabling erative condition of saidl device, substantia ly asA set forth.

18. The combination with stamp-feeding rolls and a shaft for transmitting movement thereto, of a ratchet and saddle carried, by said shaf t,'a` vibrating plate also carried by said shaft and having apawl coacting with said ratchet, an envelop-feeding device and and inoperative conditions, and connections whereby such conditions are determined by the movement of said plate, substantially as set forth. 1

. 19.'The combination with stamp-feeding rolls and a shaft for transmitting movement thereto, of a ratchet and saddle carried by y said shaft, .a vibrating plate also carried by said shaft and having a pawl coacting with said ratchet, a feeler connected with said plate and operating in the path 4of travel of the stamps between said rolls, said feeler coacting with a comb-plate, an envelop-feeding device and means for throwing the same to operative and inoperative condi tions, and connections whereby such condi tions are determined bythe movement of said forth.

20'. The combination with envelop-feeding and sealing apparatus, of mechanlsm for atlixingfa stamp to envelops fed thereby, means for tearing a'stamp from a strip and feeding it to a certain point, and tripping mechanism actuated by the advancingl edge of 'the envelop for throwing the envelopplate and feeler, substantially as set feeding device out of operation and simul-v y taneously releasing a portion of the stamp-v feeding mechanism, whereby such stamp may be'fed from the' pointnained to meet and be atlixcd to the envelop by which the tripping device was operated, substantiallyk as setfforth.

21. The combination ofastamp-receptacle having a series of stam p strips therein,

partitions arranged between such strips and having recesses,a eed-sheave coacting with such strips through the recesses in such partitions, means forchanging the relation between said feed-sheave and said strips, means for severing the stamps of the strips, a moistener for the stamps, a stampfatiixing Aroller to which the stamps are fed, and

means for feeding envelops successively to 'y i 85 means for throwing thefsame 'to operative tially as set forth.

said roller to receive said stamps, substan- 22. The combination of a stamp-receptacle having a series of stamp strips therein, partitions arranged between such rstrips and having recesses, a feed-slwave eoacting with such strips through the recesses in such partitions, means for changing the relation between said feed-sheave and said strips and for moving said stamp-reccptacle relatively to said feed-sheave, means for severing the stamps of the strips, -a moistener for the stamps, a stamp-allixing roller to which the stamps are fed, and means for feedingenvelops successively to said roller to receive said stamps, sul'istantially as set forth.

23. The combination of a stamp-receptacle having a series of stamp strips therein, partitions arranged between such strips and having recesses, means for maintaining said partitions in register, a feed-slieave coacting witlrsaid strips throu h the recesses in said partitions, means or lmoving said stamp-receptacle relatively to said feedsheave, m'eansv for severing the stamps of the strips, a moistener for the stamps, a stanlp-allixing roller to which the stamps are fed, and means for feeding envelops successively to said roller to receive said stamps, substantially as set forth.

24. The combi-nation of a stamp receptacle having a plurality of stamp strips arranged side by side therein, means for feeding said strips successively, a pair of rolls adapted to receive and forward a strip so fed, a second pair of rolls in advance of the first-named rolls and operating at higher surface speed, said rolls being adapted to tear a stamp from the end of said strip and feed the same forward, a moistener for the stamps, a stamp-aflxing roller to which the stamps are fed, and means for feeding envclops successively to said roller to receive the stamps, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with means for feedmg a stamp strip and separating from the strip and further feeding the foremost stamp thereof, of a feeler operating across thepath of travel of such separated stamp and whose movement will be restricted by the impact thereof against said stamp, envelop-feeding mechanism anda connection between the same and said feeler, a moistening roll coacting with the gummed side of the stamp,

a strlpping mechanism for precluding adhesion of said stamp to said meiste-ning roll, and an afiixing roll to which the moistencd stamp is fed for pressing such slamp into positmn upon an envcloppasscd to stampafiixing position by said envelop-feeding mechanism, substantially as setI forth.

26'. The combination with means for feeding a stamp strip and separating from the strip and further 'feeding the 'foremost stamp thereof, of a feeler operating across the path 'and in juxtaposition to said stamp-aflixing of travel of such separated stamp and whose movement' will be restricted by the impact thereof against said stamp, envelop-fee ing mechanism and a connection between the same vand said feeler, a moistenmg roll eoaetln.;

with the gummed side of the stamp, a stripping mechanism for precluding adhesion of said stamp to said moistening r'oll, an affixing roll to which the moistened stamp is fed for pressing such stamp into position upon an envelop passed to stamp-aixing position by said envelop-feeding mechanism,` I

said affixing roll being positively driven at a certain rate but vfree to move upon its axis at a higher rate, and an envelop-passing roll operating at higher surface speed than said. aflixing roll and coacting with such envelop after the same has passed such aflixing roll, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination with stamp-aiiixing mechanism, of a bed adapted to receive a, plurality of envelops, a feed-roll, means controlled by the passage of an envelop for throwing the same out of operation, a paper-'- stopping device for precluding the passage of more than one envelop'at a time, a flapmoistencr and means for passing an envelop in operative relation to said fiap-moistener mechanism, and means for delivering the envelop, both sealed and stamped, from the machine, substantially as set forth.'

28. The combination of a magazine or carrier for containing a stack of envelops, a

feeder operable to discharge envelops succcssively from the stack, means for moving envelops in the same plane subsequent to the operation of the feeder thereon, suitable sealing means, a flap moistener situated between the feeder and the sealing devices, and means for aixing stamps to the envelops prior to the action of the sealing devices thereon.

29. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, the combination ofran envelop moistening and sealing mechanism, means for Bautomatically feeding the envelop through the machine, and stamp moistening and sealing mechanism automatically aetuated by the advancing envelop.

30.l In an envelop sealing and stampinr machine, mechanism` for moistening an( sealing -an envelop, in combination with means for advancing said envelop to theL 'stamping mechanism, 'a stamp moistening roller, means actuated by the advancing envelop for automatically bringing vthe gunnned surface of a stamp into contact with said roller, and means for .advancing-it to the envelop and sealingthe 'stamp and envelop together, substantially as described.

31. In an envelop sealing-and stamping machine, mechanism yfor moistening and sealing an envelop, in combination wlth means Azo for advancing said envelop tothe stamping mechanism, means for advancing the stamps, means Aactuated by the advancing envelops for controlling the operation of said means for advancing the stamps, and means for moistening and rolling a stamp upon each K envelop as it is advancing through the machine. l

32. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, the combination of the envelop moistening and sealing mechanism and means for uninterruptedly advancing an envelop through the machine, with stamping mechanism comprising a stamp holder and mechanism automatically operatedby each advancing envelop to advance a stamp, means for severing the stamp, a moistening roll over which the stamp is advanced to meet the advancing envelop, and rollers for sealing the'y advancing stamp and envelop together. y t

33. In astamp-aflixing apparatus, the combination of a stamp-aliixing member, mechanism for feeding envelops to said (member, mechanism for feeding'stamps to said member, and means controlled by the/feeding of the envelops for operating saidl mechanisms alternately, substantially as described.

34. An envelop-stamping machine comprising rollers for forwardlng the envelops,

a second set of rollers forl forwarding the envelops at higher speed than said rollers, means for. aliixing stamps to the envelops sofed, and means actuated by the envelops fed by said rollers for controlling the operation of said stamp-aiiiting means, substantially as set forth.

35. The combination of a support for a pile of envelops, means for feeding envelops 4 successively from said support, forwarding meansfor continuing the movement of the envelops begun by said feeding means but at higher speed than that at which the envelops are' fed by the feeding means, stampaiiixing means, and means actuated by the envelops fed by said envelop-feeding means for controlling the operation of said stampaiiixing means, substantially as set forth.

36. The combination of means for feeding mined path, a power shaft connected thereto, a stamp-support, means for feeding stamps from said support along `a predetermined path intercepting the path along which the envelops are fed, means for moistening the stamps so that they will becom affixed to the envelops, connections betwee the power shaft and said stamp-feeding means whereby the shaft may actuatel the o stamp-feeding means, a make-and-break device in said connections, and a device projecting into the path along which the envelops are fed by said feeding means and operated by an envelop for controlling said .make-and-break device to connect the power envelops automatically along a predeter.

shaft in drivingl relation to the stam -feeding means when an envelop is fed tiereto, substantially as set forth. I'

37. The combination of a support for a pile of envelops, means for feeding envelops successively from said support at varying intervals of time, forwarding devices additional to said feeding means arranged to forward the envelops at higher speed than that at which they are moved by said feeding means, stam'p-aifixing means, and means actuated by the envelops fed by said envelopfeeding means for controlling the operation of said stamp-aliixing means, substantially as set forth. 38. The combination of a plurality of pairs of rollers for feeding envelops yalong a predetermined path, means for feeding stamps along a path intercepting the path of the envelops, means for moistening the stamps so that they will become affixed to the envelops, means actuated directly by the advancing envelops for controlling the operation of said stamp-feeding means, means for moistening the flaps of the envelops and means for seal-ing the flaps', substantially as set forth.

89. An envelop-stamping machine comprising two sets of envelop-forwarding rollers for forwarding envelops along a predetermined path, one set forwarding the envelops at higher speed than the other, means for feeding stamps along a pathintercepting the path of the envelops, means for moistening the stamps, and means actuated by the advancing envelops for controlling the operation of said stamp-feeding means, substantially as set forth.

40. The combination of means for supporting a pile of envelops, means for automatically feeding envelops from said support successively, means for forwarding the envelops along a predetermined path at` higher speed than that at which they are` fed, the movement of the envelops effected by the feeding means and forwarding means being continuous, means for feeding stamps along a path intercepting the path of the envelops, means for moistening the stamps, and means operated bythe advancing envelops for controlling the operation of 'the stamp-feeding means, substantially as set forth.

4l. The combination of means for supporting a pile of envelops, means for automatically feeding envelops on edge from said support successively, forwarding means for continuing the movement of the envelops so fed along a substantially straight course at higher speed than that at which they are fed, means' for'feeding stamps along a path intercepting the path of the envelops, means for moistening the stamps,

means operated by the advancing envelops f for Controllingy the operation of the stamp- 

